Would that 63 stood for my birth year rather than year of high school graduation. The saint is hardly me, however the goal is noble. Loving books is the easy part---reading all on my lists is more difficult. My tastes are eclectic: Charles Dickens to Dave Hickey, Phillip Levine to Wislawa Szymborska, Michael Faber to Michael Chabon and I would not want to leave Ellen Gilchrist or Roddy Doyle off the list. I have been fortunate to be in the company of a Nobel Laureate when I heard Czlaw Milosz speak years ago in Moraga. I have been priviliged to live all over the United States and have been able to hear some authors speak of their works---Michael Ondaatje is reserved and a reluctant speaker, Robert Hass is refined and entertaining and Paul Theroux is a dry wit with the classic accent to name a few. Would love to have dinner with John Irving, Mark Doty and Alice McDermott.
I am lucky enough to live near the beach (and one is lucky enough if one is lucky enough to live at the beach). I have a few friends to discuss books with and am beginning the rigorous training to be a tap dancer----classes start in two weeks,yeah.